Video monitor for shopping cart checkout

Abstract

A system ensures payment for the purchase of merchandise carried through a checkout aisle on the lower tray of a shopping cart. For that purpose, the system includes a controller with an embedded program for identifying a virtual structure substantially equivalent to the physical structure of the tray. Further, the system includes a sensor that determines when a cart is positioned at the checkout aisle. The system also includes a camera for creating an image of the physical structure of the tray and transmitting the image to the controller. The controller includes a means for activating the embedded program to compare the image with the virtual structure. As a result of the comparison, the controller determines whether merchandise is on the physical structure of the tray. During the comparison, the controller removes the virtual structure from the image.

1 . A system which comprises:
 a controller having an embedded program, wherein the embedded program identifies a virtual structure;   a carrier formed with a tray having a physical structure for holding merchandise therein, wherein the physical structure of the tray is substantially equivalent to the virtual structure in the embedded program;   a sensor for establishing when the carrier is at a predetermined site;   a means for creating an image of the physical structure at the site, with the image including any merchandise being held by the physical structure, and for transferring the image to the controller; and   a means mounted on the controller for activating the embedded program to compare the image with the virtual structure to determine whether merchandise is present on the physical structure of the tray.   
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein a comparison by the embedded program in the controller is made by removing the virtual structure from the image. 
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a display device connected to the image creating means to provide a visual presentation of the image at the site including any objects of merchandise held by the physical structure on the tray. 
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 3  further comprising a switching means connected with the controller to indicate the purchase of merchandise held on the physical structure of the tray. 
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the switching means comprises:
 a first switch for informing the controller of a payment for the merchandise; and   a second switch connected to the display device for clearing the display device after a purchase.   
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 3  wherein the display device is a CRT monitor. 
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the carrier is a shopping cart. 
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the cart has a plurality of wheels and a basket, with the tray being positioned at a distance “d” below the basket of the shopping cart. 
     
     
         9 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a radio frequency (RF) sensor, a motion sensor, and an infrared (IR) sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the site is a checkout aisle in a retail facility. 
     
     
         11 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the image creating means is at least one video camera. 
     
     
         12 . A system which comprises:
 a controller including a stored virtual structure;   a carrier formed with a tray having a physical structure for holding merchandise therein, wherein the physical structure of the tray is substantially equivalent to the stored virtual structure;   a camera for creating an image of the physical structure, with the image including any merchandise being held by the physical structure, and for transferring the image to the controller; and   a means mounted on the controller for activating comparison of the image with the virtual structure to determine whether merchandise is present on the physical structure of the tray.   
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a sensor for establishing when the carrier is at a predetermined site, wherein the camera creates the image of the physical structure in response to the sensor. 
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the comparison by the embedded program in the controller is made by removing the virtual structure from the image. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a display device connected to the image creating means to provide a visual presentation of the image at the site including any objects of merchandise held by the physical structure of the tray. 
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a switch connected with the controller to indicate the purchase of merchandise held on the physical structure of the tray. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the switch comprises:
 a first switch for informing the controller of a payment for the merchandise; and   a second switch connected to the display device for clearing the display device after a purchase.   
     
     
         18 . A method which comprises the steps of:
 providing a system including a controller including a stored virtual structure, a carrier formed with a tray having a physical structure for holding merchandise therein, wherein the physical structure of the tray is substantially equivalent to the stored virtual structure, and a camera for creating an image of the physical structure and for transferring the image to the controller, with the image including any merchandise being held by the physical structure;   monitoring a checkout location for the cart;   creating an image of the physical structure of the tray and any merchandise thereon when the cart is positioned at the checkout location; and   comparing the image with the virtual structure to determine whether merchandise is present on the physical structure of the tray.   
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the comparing step is performed by removing the virtual structure from the image. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the system includes a display device connected to the camera and wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a visual presentation of the image including any merchandise held by the physical structure of the tray.